Mercenaries Killing Political Leaders - Is It the New Way We Fight Wars

Just reading through this article about private Americans hired as mercenaries by foreign countries to kill political enemies:

American Mercenaries

I guess it's something that everybody has considered at one time or another. Targeting the head of a government or other organization to neutralize a threat rather than slaughtering a good chunk of the local population. Kill Hitler, right?

But something about this doesn't seem quite cricket. It's a dangerous world, though. Always has been. Political leaders have always been targets, either the enemy's or for the downtrodden folks back home. But if this is the way we're going to fight wars in the future, I suppose it might be a good idea to not be anybody's Hitler. Or... you should strive to be everybody's worst Hitler and get them first. I guess you're a target either way.

EDIT;

Shot from the hip and ended up looking stupid . Lol

I’m just glad nobody else will see it .

Seriously?

SOF Magazine use to be big in the 80s.

Mercenaries is as old as it gets.

Going back to even before the beginning of this country.

a reply to: Blue Shift

Looking at the historical track record, it's more dangerous to be a good guy looking to reclaim your country's assets from the global corporate cabals.

Umm...yes. this is how it always has been.

I even dare say, a lot of those killings have furthered the freedom of individuals.

Hate me...

a reply to: Blue Shift

I'm pretty sure Americans even acting as hired mercs can be tried under the Geneva convention. Well, the U.S. government would be obliged to give them up. Assassinations are outlawed. For those that get away with it I'd bet they make some serious cash.

originally posted by: The GUT
a reply to: Blue Shift

Looking at the historical track record, it's more dangerous to be a good guy looking to reclaim your country's assets from from the global corporate cabals.

Just a quick glance at history makes it pretty clear that the one thing you don't want to be is somebody with political clout advocating non-violence and peaceful conflict resolution. You might as well wear a target.

originally posted by: neo96
Seriously?

SOF Magazine use to be big in the 80s.

Mercenaries is as old as it gets.

Going back to even before the beginning of this country.

Yes Mercs have been one of the oldest tactics in the book.
Every nation throughout history all the way back till city states and villages and before, hiring someone to kill someone else - especially for political/economic reasons - has had this happening in one form or another.

What we should really be surprised by is that such practices aren't more prevalent in today's world. It's actually astonishing how rare it has become.

originally posted by: muzzleflash
What we should really be surprised by is that such practices aren't more prevalent in today's world. It's actually astonishing how rare it has become.

I guess that's what I'm wondering. It is becoming more prevalent? As much as Soldier of Fortune might have had some appeal to ex-military types or wanna-bes (along with just general low-lifes who like killing deadbeat wives and husbands for small amounts of money), it wasn't like it was advocating or assisting a positive program of coordinated assassination. If that were the case, there would be world leaders' heads exploding on the news every day.

It's a relatively cheap way to steer the course of political history without bothering to consult with the ordinary folks, you know, citizens and the like. If it turns out to be a recognized and acceptable way of doing your political business, I can't imagine very many positive consequences down the road.

a reply to: Blue Shift

There are plenty still around. Today we call them government contractors. We also use drones now for assassinations.

originally posted by: toms54
a reply to: Blue Shift

There are plenty still around. Today we call them government contractors. We also use drones now for assassinations.

When has a drone been shown to have politically assassinated anyone? Not that it wouldn't be a good weapon. I just haven't heard of such a case.

a reply to: Blue Shift


I want to know how I get a job on one of these units doing that. anyone in the know contact me

originally posted by: Blue Shift

originally posted by: The GUT
a reply to: Blue Shift

Looking at the historical track record, it's more dangerous to be a good guy looking to reclaim your country's assets from from the global corporate cabals.

Just a quick glance at history makes it pretty clear that the one thing you don't want to be is somebody with political clout advocating non-violence and peaceful conflict resolution. You might as well wear a target.

Who would those people be?

originally posted by: muzzleflash

originally posted by: neo96
Seriously?

SOF Magazine use to be big in the 80s.

Mercenaries is as old as it gets.

Going back to even before the beginning of this country.

Yes Mercs have been one of the oldest tactics in the book.
Every nation throughout history all the way back till city states and villages and before, hiring someone to kill someone else - especially for political/economic reasons - has had this happening in one form or another.

What we should really be surprised by is that such practices aren't more prevalent in today's world. It's actually astonishing how rare it has become.

This, exactly.

As the premier power in the world, this sort of thing is to be expected, turn a blind eye to, let someone else get their hands dirty.

More so, it IS an interesting revelation on how rare this is.

Very good thread and awesome article, S+F.

originally posted by: Blue Shift

originally posted by: toms54
a reply to: Blue Shift

There are plenty still around. Today we call them government contractors. We also use drones now for assassinations.

When has a drone been shown to have politically assassinated anyone? Not that it wouldn't be a good weapon. I just haven't heard of such a case.

Drones were used on an almost monthly basis to assassinate the leaders of ISIS during the Obama administration.

A drone brought down Qaddafi. They bombed his motorcade with a drone then rebels attacked for the actual kill. It was a US sponsored event made possible with a drone.

originally posted by: highvein

originally posted by: Blue Shift

originally posted by: The GUT
a reply to: Blue Shift

Looking at the historical track record, it's more dangerous to be a good guy looking to reclaim your country's assets from from the global corporate cabals.

Just a quick glance at history makes it pretty clear that the one thing you don't want to be is somebody with political clout advocating non-violence and peaceful conflict resolution. You might as well wear a target.

Who would those people be?

I don't know all that much about mercenaries. They are basically private security companies that recruit from ex military and police. It helps to have skills. Blackwater, famous for their role in Iraq, has gone through some name changes. Flip through their Wikipedia page here: Academi. Very revealing.

a reply to: Blue Shift

This is not in the slightest bit new.

Its also not the case that its just western mercs being hired by other countries. America and the UK have both employed mercs and proxies to do their dirty work in the past, and there is no reason to believe that they have stopped, especially since they continue to sponsor terrorism, with their partner in crime, the Saudi Arabians.

originally posted by: norhoc
a reply to: Blue Shift

I want to know how I get a job on one of these units doing that. anyone in the know contact me

I could tell you, but then I'd have to... well, you know.

originally posted by: highvein
Who would those people be?

Gandhi, Martin Luther King... Jesus, if you want to get mythological. There are some others here, although you might disagree with some of the listings:

Assassinated Peacemakers

a reply to: cognizant420

Good luck with that...

Get one of them to the hague without getting your lunch ate or your jet bounced by f-22's looking to force you down one way or another!